Current guideline recommendations and analysis of evidence quality on low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to attain and maintain erection of the penis sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual activity. ED most commonly affects men from 40 years of age with a clear age-associated increase in prevalence. The condition may have significant negative impa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of impotence research 2019-05, Vol.31 (3), p.209-217
Main Authors: Schoofs, Esther, Fode, Mikkel, Capogrosso, Paolo, Albersen, Maarten
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Best practice
Blood flow
Care and treatment
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction - therapy
Europe
Evidence-based medicine
Humans
Impotence
Lithotripsy
Male
Mens health
Patient Satisfaction
Penile Erection
Penis
Practice guidelines (Medicine)
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Quality of Life
Sexual disorders
Societies, Medical
Ultrasonic Therapy
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Description
Summary:Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to attain and maintain erection of the penis sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual activity. ED most commonly affects men from 40 years of age with a clear age-associated increase in prevalence. The condition may have significant negative impact on quality of life for both the patients and their partners. Over recent years, low-intensity shockwave therapy (LIST) has gained popularity in the treatment of ED, based on the assumption that LIST application may result in neoangiogenesis and thus increased blood flow to the corpora cavernosa. The increasing usage of LIST is contrasting with current guidelines, with the EAU guideline on ED stating that LIST can be used in mild organic ED patients or poor responders to PDE5I's, but with a weak strength of recommendation. In the AUA guideline on ED, the panel makes a conditional recommendation of grade C that LIST should be considered investigational. In this review, we will briefly review practice patterns, and critically discuss the evidence based on which these guideline statements have been made.
ISSN:0955-9930
1476-5489
DOI:10.1038/s41443-019-0132-0